Brief report: Growth in polysubstance use among youth in the child welfare system

This paper establishes foundational knowledge on development of polysubstance use among adolescents in the U.S. child welfare system (CWS).

Data on U.S. CWS adolescents from the National Study of Child and Adolescent Well-Being were examined for rates of alcohol, marijuana, and hard drug use; and change in use over time.

Past 30-day absolute use was highest for alcohol, but daily/near-daily use highest for marijuana. Marijuana use increased at later time points. A correlated growth model suggested covariation in use of the substances. A curve-of-factors model suggested that higher-order factors explain most variation in substance use, except at the last time point. Those with lower use changed the most across time.

Subsequent research among CWS adolescents in the U.S. should consider substances jointly. Prevention should focus on marijuana, and later periods of adolescence and CWS involvement. Youth not thought of as at great risk upon entering the CWS may be most vulnerable.